About thirty kilometers from Hanoi, two ancient pagodas bear witness to the richness of Vietnamese Buddhism in the Red River Delta. Van Phuc, founded in 1037, and But Thap, built in the 17th century, are often visited on the same day and offer an illuminating contrast between the architecture of the Ly and that of the later Lê dynasties.

Why visit Van Phuc and But Thap pagodas

These two sites allow you to escape the bustle of Hanoi and venture into countryside dotted with rice paddies and traditional hamlets. Van Phuc, perched on hills southeast of the capital, captivates with its antiquity: its foundation dates back to 1037, during the Ly dynasty. But Thap, in Bac Ninh province, stands out for its remarkable collection of statues, including the famous Quan Am statue with a thousand eyes and thousand arms, dated to 1656.

For travelers interested in Buddhist spirituality, religious art, or simply a day excursion away from crowded circuits, these pagodas make a worthwhile stop. The crowds here remain modest compared to temples in central Hanoi.

History of the two pagodas

Van Phuc Pagoda, legacy of the Ly

Van Phuc was founded in 1037, at a time when Buddhism was the state religion of the young Dai Viet kingdom. The pagoda is part of the movement to build religious structures under the Ly dynasty (1009–1225), which left a lasting mark on Vietnam's spiritual landscape. It is located approximately 27 km southeast of Hanoi, in a hilly setting that contrasts with the surrounding delta plain.

But Thap Pagoda, jewel of the later Lê

Built in the 17th century under the later Lê dynasty, But Thap stands west of the hamlet of the same name in Bac Ninh province, about thirty kilometers from Hanoi. The name But Thap means "brush stupa,